Here at Mother&Baby, we believe it's never too early to prepare for the festive season and to help us out; John Lewis has revealed its top toys for Christmas. Finding the perfect Christmas presents in December is absolute chaos. There are so many aspects to prepare for to create the perfect Christmas, from planning meals, scheduling family visits and getting down the decorations.
We've no doubt over the next few months your little one will start compiling their extensive wishlist and getting ready to pen their letter to Santa. But sometimes, we all need a little inspiration. And finding toys that are actually worth your well-earned cash is incredibly important, especially in the current economic climate. But fear not, John Lewis has come to the rescue with their predictions of the best toys of the year.
Whether your little one enjoys playing with wooden sets or dolls, animals or pretend food, there's truly a Christmas gift for everyone at John Lewis.
So, without further avail, these are the very best toys that John Lewis thinks will be on your little ones' Christmas list this year. So, if you want to give Santa a helping hand, many of them are already available for purchase and pre-order keep this page bookmarked so you can check back into the run-up to Christmas.
Best toy for creativity
Credit: John Lewis 
We can't get enough of the Play-Doh Rainbow Swirl Ice Cream Playset! This set promises hours of imaginative play as kids pretend to run their own ice cream parlour. We love that your little one can twist the handle to create Play-Doh swirls that look just like real ice cream, especially when served in the adorable mini cones and bowls. There are even moulds to create sweets and toppings.
Pros
- Fun for all ages
- Toy needs assembling
- Comes with three dual colour Play-Doh pots
Cons
- Machine can become a little stiff
| Suitable from: | 3 years |
Best musical toy
Credit: John Lewis www.johnlewis.com
For music-loving tots, it doesn't get better than this adorable record player that has interactive elements like skip and remix elements. We love that this toy introduces little ones to five different genres of music, from country to hip-hop.
Pros
- Disks for five music discs
- Interactive
- Lights up
- Encourages Auditory Awareness ( the ability to detect sound)
Cons
- Batteries required
| Suitable from: | 12 months |
Best for STEAM development
Credit: John Lewis www.johnlewis.com
At Mother&Baby, we've been big fans of Connetix for a long time. This new set is perfect for sparking young imaginations and encouraging STEAM development. The Motion Pack is ideal for both beginners and experienced mini-builders. It inspires children to explore movement, magnetism, and colour while creating endless vehicle designs. We love that you can keep expanding your collection to create even more exciting builds.
Pros
- Promotes STEAM development
- Reusable and endless opportunities for play
- Magnetic elements are strong enough to hold the builds
Cons
- Not as many pieces as some of the other Connetix starter packs
| Suitable from: | 3 years |
Best Barbie toy
Credit: John Lewis www.johnlewis.com
What would Christmas be without a Barbie playset? Since she first appeared on shelves in 1959, Barbie has been a staple on Christmas lists around the world. We love this horse playset, especially for kids who adore animals! It offers hours of imaginative fun with Barbie and her horse, complete with accessories that are perfect for pretend play.
Pros
- Large playset (25+ pieces)
- The stable folds up for easy storage.
- Great for pretend play
Cons
- Colours and decorations may vary from the picture
| Suitable from: | 3 years |
What are the top 10 John Lewis Christmas toys of 2024 ?
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Squish-a-Longs 14 Pack - £14.99 (available September)
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Play-Doh Rainbow Swirl Ice Cream Set - £20.99 (available now)
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VTech My 1st Record Player - £27.99 (available now)
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Gecko Hexbug - £29.99 (available now)
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Bonnie Bear - £32.99 (available October)
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LEGO Sleigh - £39.99 (available for pre-order September)
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Connetix Magnetic Tiles Rainbow Motion Pack - £45 (available August)
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Ultimate Barbie Stables - £69.99 (available now)
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Melissa & Doug Vending Machine - £79.99 (available now)
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Wooden Deluxe Play Kitchen - £250 (available for pre-order September)
Alan Wright, Toys and Books Category Lead, says, “We know how important it is to bring people together during the festive period, and this factored heavily into our decision-making when pulling together this year’s Top Toys. Whether that’s by building toys together as a family or role-playing with friends, each of the toys encourages social play in a unique way no matter the age.”
Hannah Carroll is our Senior Parenting, Lifestyle and Home Product Writer. In her capacity, she curates top-notch listicles, crafts insightful how-to guides, and delivers expert product reviews. As a mother of three, Hannah draws upon her comprehensive understanding of all facets of family life to bring true insight into all the products that make running a home easier.